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Audio-book review: Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman, read by Sean Barrett

"Listen. The Sanctuary of the Redeemers on Shotover Scarp is named after a damned lie for there is no redemption that goes on there and less sanctuary."

The Sanctuary of the Redeemers is a vast and desolate place – a place without joy or hope. Most of its occupants were taken there as boys and for years have endured the brutal regime of the Lord Redeemers whose cruelty and violence have one singular purpose – to serve in the name of the One True Faith.

In one of the Sanctuary’s vast and twisting maze of corridors stands a boy. He is perhaps fourteen or fifteen years old – he is not sure and neither is anyone else. He has long-forgotten his real name, but now they call him Thomas Cale. He is strange and secretive, witty and charming, violent and profoundly bloody-minded. He is so used to the cruelty that he seems immune, but soon he will open the wrong door at the wrong time and witness an act so terrible that he will have to leave this place, or die.

His only hope of survival is to escape across the arid Scablands to Memphis, a city the opposite of the Sanctuary in every way: breathtakingly beautiful, infinitely Godless, and deeply corrupt.

But the Redeemers want Cale back at any price… not because of the secret he now knows but because of a much more terrifying secret he does not.

Paul Hoffman’s The Left Hand of God is a well-written book and makes for a highly enjoyable listen, particularly when narrated by a reader as good as Sean Barrett. Barrett’s tone, delivery and pacing are perfect and he has worked wonders in making the – not-insignificant number of – cast members all sound unique and authentic.

Hoffman’s book is not a masterpiece, it is good solid fantasy, its strength lies in its appeal that has crossed over into mainstream literature. It is not just fantasy fans that have enjoyed reading it but it has also managed to find favour in circles that would not usually read within the genre. No small achievement.

The telling of this story encompasses the listener in a warm and cosy feeling and the author and narrator immediately gain the listener’s trust. There is a vibrancy and life to the tale that provides great entertainment and that compels you to listen to the very end.

The good news is that there will be a sequel and, fingers crossed, Mr Hoffman and Mr Barrett will once again team up to record it. The audio-book version of The Left Hand of Darkness is an example of storyteller and narrator in perfect harmony. Great fun – one of the best fantasy audio-books.

The Left Hand of God
Paul Hoffman
Unabridged
Narrator: Sean Barrett
Length: 12 hours and 30 min

Posted: August 4th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books

Audio book review: Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb, read by Saskia Butler

Guided by the great blue dragon Tintaglia, they came from the sea: a Tangle of serpents fighting their way up the Rain Wilds River, the first to make the perilous journey to the cocooning grounds in generations. Many have died along the way. With its acid waters and impenetrable forest, it is a hard place for any to survive. People are changed by the Rain Wilds, subtly or otherwise. One such is Thymara. Born with black claws and other aberrations, she should have been exposed at birth. But her father saved her and her mother has never forgiven him. Like everyone else, Thymara is fascinated by the return of dragons: it is as if they symbolise the return of hope to their war-torn world. Leftrin, captain of the liveship Tarman, also has an interest in the hatching; as does Bingtown newlywed, Alise Finbok, who has made it her life’s work to study all there is to know of dragons. But the creatures which emerge from the cocoons are a travesty of the powerful, shining dragons of old. Stunted and deformed, they cannot fly; some seem witless and bestial. Soon, they become a danger and a burden to the Rain Wilders: something must be done. The dragons claim an ancestral memory of a fabled Elderling city far upriver: perhaps there the dragons will find their true home. But Kelsingra appears on no maps and they cannot get there on their own: a band of dragon keepers, hunters and chroniclers must attend them. To be a dragon keeper is a dangerous job: their charges are vicious and unpredictable, and there are many unknown perils on the journey to a city which may not even exist…

The Liveship Traders was a brilliant trilogy of books, amongst the best that the fantasy genre has ever seen. So when author Robin Hobb decided to return to the Rain Wild River to write a stand-alone adventure the news was greeted with great joy from her legions of fans around the world. Hobb had originally intended the new work to be just one volume but her publishers thought it wiser to split it into two books, Dragon Keeper and Dragon Haven.

Dragon Keeper is better suited to a female narrator and in Saskia Butler they chose well. Her youthful tone is well-matched to the two young female protagonists, Alise and Thymara, and her delivery is very entertaining and professional. The story itself is VERY character-driven; those familiar with Robin Hobb’s work will expect this but those new to her work should be aware that Robin Hobb does not write non-stop action-packed rollercoaster rides – the characters, and their deepest thought and feelings are paramount to her tales.

The Dragon Keeper audio-book is perfect for those desperate to know more of the dragons and Elderlings that feature in the Farseer, Liveship and Tawny Man books. It does in particular shine greater light on the Elderlings: who they were, how they came to be and – on this part I’m just guessing, and hoping – what became of them.

Dragon Keeper is an intriguing look at human nature and interaction that forms the introductory part of the whole that is The Rain Wild Chronicle. Dragon Haven promises to be even better…

Dragon Keeper: The Rain Wild Chronicles, Book 1
Robin Hobb
Unabridged
Narrator: Saskia Butler
Length: 17 hours and 3 min

Posted: August 3rd, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books, Robin Hobb

Audio-book review: Dinotopia – The World Beneath

James Gurney first introduced Dinotopia to the world in 1992 with a series of illustrated books based on the journals of explorer Arthur Denison. 2002 saw the series appear as a TV mini-series and now, Dinotopia: The World Beneath has been adapted into an audio drama using a full cast of actors and original music by Tim Clark. The two and a half hour audio adventure has been produced by the ZBS Foundation.

The World Beneath is a tale centred on the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, set at the tail-end of the nineteenth century on an island where man and dinosaur live side-by-side in an almost utopian existence. The story begins with Professor Denison about to unveil his invention, a steam-powered flying machine. His son Will flies it, and disaster strikes. The professor’s focus returns to an earlier exploration of caves yielding artefacts he believes point to a long-lost Dinotopian civilization.

The strength of this audio production is the atmosphere that it creates. The sound-effects, recorded in Bali, Sumatra and the Amazon by Tom Lopez, lend a delightful tropical rain forest feel that perfectly matches the location. The voice actors used are of the highest quality and this ZBS Foundation production reminded me strongly of National Public Radio’s dramatisation of the Star Wars trilogy*. Indeed, there is much about Dinotopia that reminds me of Star Wars and I have a feeling that James Gurney is heavily influenced by both the works of George Lucas, and to a lesser extent, Jules Verne. There is also much within that is steampunk;  hand pedalled submarines, strange mechanical vehicles shaped like dinosaurs, and flying machines that resemble dragonflies.

I would certainly recommend Dinotopia: The World Beneath as it is a high-quality production featuring excellent narration, acting and sound-effects. The story itself is classic fantasy fare and the idea that man and dinosaur can live together in perfect harmony is a beautiful and thought-provoking notion. This audio production will appeal to existing Dinotopia fans plus those who like Jules Verne and Star Wars.

*Between 1982 and 1984 National Public Radio dramatised Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. 

About the ZBS foundation
ZBS is a not-for-profit arts organization. For 35 years they have been producing radio/audio stories. These are comic and cosmic adventures, science fiction, mystical mysteries – some with spiritual wisdoms woven within. Their intention has always been to raise consciousness by using the media, radio and audio.

Posted: May 10th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books

Craftsman Audio Books: unabridged recordings of fiction for listeners of all ages

Craftsman Audio Books produce unabridged recordings of fiction for listeners of all ages. Every title added is the result of a very careful process of selection.  The emphasis is on quality not quantity.  This is no corporate sausage factory where producers are indifferent to the books they are recording. In the years that Craftsman Audio Books have been publishing they have only ever adapted books that they care passionately about, and these are books with strength of writing that marks them out immediately.  By combining this writing with a wonderful group of actors they are able to produce audio books that demonstrate a clear understanding of what the author is trying to achieve. Craftsman Audio Books are proud to be different.

Craftsman Audio Books was founded in the 1990s as a family company, and is now an associate of the Pelican Group of Companies. Publisher Tim Cook began his career producing radio commercials and later founded the audio list at Orchard Books working with many of the industry’s best-known readers on productions integrating sound effects, music and songs. In total, Tim has 20 years experience in book publishing, editing numerous titles. His devotion to the audio book medium is reflected in the care with which each Craftsman title is produced

All new Craftsman titles include a bonus Data CD containing profiles of the author and the reader, a detailed Track Listing cross-referenced with page numbers of the original book, as well as details of other titles available including trailers. Original music has always been a feature of their titles; as important to their recordings as the cover design is to a printed book. Currently Craftsman Audio Books are commissioning music from the East Anglian composer Leigh Odlin who’s atmospheric and richly-textured orchestral pieces add a new dimension to many of our recent recordings including Catherine Fisher’s Snow-Walker Trilogy.

Craftsman Audio Books selects its readers with great care – you could almost say that they were the Craftsman rep company. Not only is each one a highly accomplished audio book reader (a very rare and special skill in itself), they have also worked extensively in theatre, television and film. We look for actors who bring subtlety, nuance and, where it is needed, humour to our recordings.

http://www.craftsmanaudio.co.uk/

Posted: February 6th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books

Audio-book Review: Farmer Giles of Ham, read by Sir Derek Jacobi

Many may be forgiven for thinking that JRR Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, then after taking a breath The Lord of the Rings, and then called it a day. These two works are known in every corner of the world and overshadowed everything that Tolkien penned both before and after. It is easy to forget that the great Professor also wrote other delightful stories, not least Leaf by Niggle and the book that we are reviewing here, Farmer Giles of Ham.

Our book review of The Hobbit
Our book review of The Lord of the Rings

This was not my first experience of Farmer Giles of Ham in the audio format as, many moons ago, I had a copy on tape with the unmistakable voice of Brian Blessed voicing the lead. Sadly, both tape and the means of playing it are no longer open to me so I downloaded another version, this time narrated by Fantasy Book Review favourite, Derek Jacobi.

Farmer Giles of Ham is full of wit and humour, set in the days when giants and dragons walked the earth. He did not look like a hero. He was fat and red-bearded and enjoyed a slow, comfortable life. Then one day a rather deaf and short-sighted giant blundered on to his land. More by luck than skill, Farmer Giles managed to scare him away. The people of the village cheered: Farmer Giles was a hero. His reputation spread far and wide across the kingdom. So it was natural that when the dragon Chrysophylax visited the area it was Farmer Giles who was expected to do battle with it!

This is a simple medieval fable of unexpected heroism told with great aplomb by Derek Jacobi. The farmer and the dragon may be those around whom the story unfolds but it is Giles’s cowardly dog Garm that steals the show with his wheedling ways and the touching devotion and pride he shows for his master.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.

Sir Derek George Jacobi CBE is an English actor and film director, knighted in 1994 for his services to theatre. Like Laurence Olivier, he bears the distinction of holding two knighthoods, Danish and British. He is regarded to have one of the most outstanding speaking voices ever, with studied tonality and an exceptional elocution in drama.

Posted: January 18th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books, JRR Tolkien

Audio-book review: The Runes of the Earth read by Anton Lesser

Synopsis
In 1977, Stephen Donaldson changed the face of epic fantasy with the publication of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Thomas Covenant is struck down with a disease believed eradicated; he is abandoned by his wife and son and becomes a pariah. Alone and despairing, Covenant falls, and is drawn into a mysterious new world, where gentle people work magic and the earth itself brings healing. He is welcomed as the reincarnation of a legendary saviour, but Covenant refuses to believe. At the end of the sixth book, as Covenant battles to save the world, he is killed, in both worlds, as Dr. Linden Avery, his horrified companion, looks on.

It’s 10 years later, and Linden Avery thought she would never see the Land, or Covenant, again. But Lord Foul has stolen her adopted son, and is unmaking the very laws of nature. And though she believes Covenant dead, he keeps sending Linden messages: "Find me", and "Don’t trust me". The Land is in turmoil, and Lord Foul has plans for them all.

Review
This audio-book proved to be tough-going. Reading the original books was also tough-going but they had the redemptive quality of being ultimately highly rewarding. I am afraid The Runes of the Earth is simply tough-going.

If pushed to name the one thing that I found most annoying about this audio-book I would have to go with the overly dramatic moments that plagued it. You could almost visualise an exclamation mark ever paragraph – Foul, you bastard! How could he! The Land is dying! I’ve forgotten to brush my teeth! etc… etc…

Added to this, Linden Avery cuts a rather unsympathetic and annoying lead, and Anele is a nerve-grating addition to the cast.

Anton Lesser struggles manfully, his stock narrative voice excellent but his portrayal of individual characters not quite as strong. I’m afraid that this audio-book and The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant are just not for me, which is a shame considering that the original six books are works that I will always remember fondly.

There is, however, an excellent and fascinating interview with Stephen Donaldson after the reading has finished.

About the author and narrator
Stephen R. Donaldson came to prominence in 1977 with the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, a story that centred around a leper shunned by society and his trials and tribulations as his destiny unfolds. These books established Stephen Donaldson as one of the most important figures in modern fantasy fiction.

British actor Anton Lesser has played many of the principal Shakespearian roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company, including Petruchio, Romeo and Richard III. He is also very active in radio and spoken word audio and is particularly known for the major novels of Charles Dickens, with Great Expectations winning the Talkie Award.

Posted: January 16th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books, Stephen Donaldson

Audiobook and eBook downloads experience record growth

OverDrive, the eBook and audiobook distributor, announced significant milestones in library download circulation and web traffic in 2009. Patrons at more than 10,000 libraries worldwide viewed 401 million download website pages and checked out 8.7 million eBook, audiobook, music and video titles, both of which are all-time highs.

In 2009, this substantial increase in usage as a result of the growing popularity of eBooks, iPod-compatibility for nearly all audiobooks in its catalogue, and new mobile initiatives for wireless downloading, among other enhancements.

Key statistics and milestones include: 

• 401 million website pages viewed by library patrons (69 percent growth over 2008) and 8.7 million
• digital titles checked out (63 percent increase over 2008) — 4 billion minutes of spoken word audio
• downloaded from library websites — 70 percent increase in audiobook checkouts over 2008, while eBook
• checkouts increased by 53 percent — 40 percent increase in new library users over 2008 — The OverDrive
• digital catalogue for libraries grew to 300,000 titles with the addition of 100,000 eBooks, 27,000
• audiobooks, and 4,000 music and video titles — Using new Facebook® and Twitter(TM) sharing features,
• library users shared what they were downloading from their library thousands of times — OverDrive
• launched mobile versions of nearly all library download websites and released audiobook apps for Windows

Dan Brown’s international blockbuster “The Lost Symbol” was the most downloaded adult fiction audiobook and eBook of 2009 from the library. Titles from Stephenie Meyer, Malcolm Gladwell, and Barack Obama were also among the most downloaded books from the library in 2009.

Top five titles in each adult category include:

Most Downloaded Adult Fiction Audiobooks from the Library (2009)

1. “The Lost Symbol,” Dan Brown
2. “The Host,” Stephenie Meyer
3. “The Associate,” John Grisham
4. “Atlas Shrugged,” Ayn Rand
5. “The 8th Confession,” James Patterson

Most Downloaded Adult Fiction eBooks from the Library (2009)

1. “The Lost Symbol,” Dan Brown
2. “Devil in Winter,” Lisa Kleypas
3. “Again the Magic,” Lisa Kleypas
4. “Because You are Mine,” Lisa Kleypas
5. “Dreaming of You,” Lisa Kleypas

Most Downloaded Adult Nonfiction Audiobooks from the Library (2009)

1. “25 Things to Say to the Interviewer to Get the Job You Want,” Dexter Hawk
2. “Outliers,” Malcolm Gladwell
3. “Blink,” Malcolm Gladwell
4. “Three Cups of Tea,” Greg Mortenson
5. “The 4-Hour Work Week,” Timothy Ferriss

Most Downloaded Adult Nonfiction eBooks from the Library (2009)

1. “Blink,” Malcolm Gladwell
2. “The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People,” David Niven
3. “Marley & Me,” John Grogan
4. “Dreams from My Father,” Barack Obama
5. “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” Daniel G. Amen

Posted: January 15th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books

The Tombs of Atuan (unabridged) read by Karen Archer

Synopsis
In the legends of Earthsea, it is said that the wizard and king Erreth-Akbe was defeated by the high priest of the Kargad lands, and his amulet of power, bearing the rune of bonding, was broken and was lost.

Now, in the second book of Earthsea, the wizard Sparrowhawk enters the menacing labyrinth of the Tombs of Atuan to regain the amulet, and restore the rune which will bring peace to all of the islands of Earthsea.

Yet the labyrinth has a guardian, a young princess called Arha, whose life is dedicated to the the dark spirits who inhabit the tombs. She is determined that Sparrowhawk will meet the fate the befell Erreth-Akbe long ago.

Review
The Tombs of Atuan follows on from A Wizard of Earthsea but there is a distinctly different feel to the story. Featuring a predominantly female cast and set mainly in the location of the Tombs it is a departure from its predecessor. Those expecting simply more of Sparrowhawk and his voyages will be in for a surprise. Ursula Le Guin again shows the power of names introduced in A Wizard of Earthsea, and the themes of light and shadow, good and evil are again evident. It is a courageous and compelling sequel.

Karen Archer’s narration is first-rate and her pacing and delivery are once again perfect.

About the reader
To all of her performances, Karen Archer brings a seamless fluidity and humanity combined with precision  and attention to detail. These qualities have made her a familiar voice in the many documentaries she has recorded for National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Karen has made numerous broadcasts for BBC Radio, twice being a member of BBC Radio Drama Company. Her work in the theatre includes classics such as Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts and contemporary roles such as Annie Wilkes in an adaptation of Steven King’s novel Misery. Her extensive  television work has included Assistant Chief Constable Anne Stewart in the police drama series The Chief and Queen Elizabeth I in David Starkey’s acclaimed historical series, Elizabeth.

Karen has read a biography of Queen Elizabeth I for Naxos Audio Books. For Craftsman, she has also recorded the complete Snow-Walker trilogy by renowned fantasy author Catherine Fisher and the critically-acclaimed recording of Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea. Karen says of its sequel, The Tombs of Atuan:

“Ursula Le Guin’s evocation of atmosphere and place is quite breathtaking. But it is her overriding belief in the enduring goodness of one human spirit in the face of evil that is at the core of this book, connecting Earthsea to the here-and-now.’’

About the author
Ursula K. Le Guin was born Ursula Kroeber in 1929 in Berkeley, California. Her mother was a writer and her father an anthropologist. Her childhood was spent in a household filled with talk, argument and discussion surrounded by books, music and story-telling. As the only daughter in her family, the absence of her 3 elder brothers during World War Two made the summers at home lonely ones. Yet she considers those long days as a teenager, wandering the hills, of great importance: ‘I think I started making my soul then’ Ursula says. With a love of languages, she studied French and Italian literature at Radcliffe College. In 1953, in Paris, she married the historian Charles A. Le Guin. A very private person, Ursula Le Guin has three children, three grandchildren and lives in Portland, Oregon.

She has published six books of poetry, twenty novels, over a hundred short stories, four collections of essays, eleven books for children, and four volumes of translation and says of the work of authorship: “Writing is my craft. I honour it deeply. To have a craft, to be able to work at it, is to be honoured by it.”

The books in the Earthsea cycle were first published to great acclaim in 1968 with A Wizard of Earthsea. Millions of copies have subsequently been sold and the books have been translated into 16 languages. Ursula says:

“Exploring the Archipelago, discovering the rules of magic and what happens when you break them, the things I learned in Earthsea and the people I met there – that’s been a great part of my life for nearly forty years. And a great part of the joy of it is knowing that I share it with my readers.”

Posted: December 24th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books, Ursula Le Guin

Twilight rules audio-book downloads at Christmas

A glance at the best-selling science fiction and fantasy downloads on Audible.co.uk shows that Stephenie Meyer‘s enormous popularity is also evident amongst those who like to listen to a good story. Twilight and New Moon list #1 and #2 respectively, with Eclipse and Breaking Dawn coming in at #4 and #5. If not for Terry Pratchett and the audio version of Unseen Academicals Meyer would have claimed a Beatles-esque dominance over the top 10.

1. Twilight: The Twilight Saga, Book 1 (Unabridged)
2. New Moon: The Twilight Saga, Book 2 (Unabridged)
3. Unseen Academicals: Discworld #32 (Unabridged)
4. Eclipse: The Twilight Saga, Book 3 (Unabridged)
5. Breaking Dawn: The Twilight Saga, Book 4 (Unabridged)
6. The Time Traveler’s Wife (Unabridged)
7. And Another Thing…: Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Part Six of Three (Unabridged)
8. Under the Dome (Unabridged)
9. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (Unabridged)
10. The Gathering Storm: Wheel of Time, Book 12 (Unabridged)

An exciting new audiobook has also appeared on the site with Robin Hobb’s Dragon Keeper, read by Saskia Butler, now available for download. Here’s the synopsis:

Guided by the great blue dragon Tintaglia, they came from the sea: a Tangle of serpents fighting their way up the Rain Wilds River, the first to make the perilous journey to the cocooning grounds in generations. Many have died along the way. With its acid waters and impenetrable forest, it is a hard place for any to survive.

People are changed by the Rain Wilds, subtly or otherwise. One such is Thymara. Born with black claws and other aberrations, she should have been exposed at birth. But her father saved her and her mother has never forgiven him. Like everyone else, Thymara is fascinated by the return of dragons: it is as if they symbolise the return of hope to their war-torn world. Leftrin, captain of the liveship Tarman, also has an interest in the hatching; as does Bingtown newlywed, Alise Finbok, who has made it her life’s work to study all there is to know of dragons.

But the creatures which emerge from the cocoons are a travesty of the powerful, shining dragons of old. Stunted and deformed, they cannot fly; some seem witless and bestial. Soon, they become a danger and a burden to the Rain Wilders: something must be done. The dragons claim an ancestral memory of a fabled Elderling city far upriver: perhaps there the dragons will find their true home. But Kelsingra appears on no maps and they cannot get there on their own: a band of dragon keepers, hunters and chroniclers must attend them.

To be a dragon keeper is a dangerous job: their charges are vicious and unpredictable, and there are many unknown perils on the journey to a city which may not even exist…

Posted: December 23rd, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books, Brandon Sanderson, Stephenie Meyer, Terry Pratchett

Audio Book Review: Why the Whales Came by Michael Morpurgo, read by Virginia McKenna

Synopsis
Rushy Bay was forbidden territory to Gracie and Daniel. And not just because of the currents; the Birdman lived there. Gracie brings the curse of Samson Island on her own family. It is only the Birdman who can avert the tragedy.

Narrator: Virginia McKenna
Length: 4 hours and 16 min.

Review
Michael Morpurgo’s enchanting tale of friendship, war, legends and curses is set amongst the raw and wild beauty of The Isles of Scilly. This wonderful story carries echoes of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and is adeptly narrated by Virginia McKenna whose regional accents are accurate and warm. Her reading captures the setting superbly and her pacing and delivery are both spot on.

Why the Whales came is a delight yet another example of what a good author Morpurgo is.

About the narrator
In 1956, Virginia McKenna won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film A Town like Alice and two years later was nominated for Best Actress again for her role as the World War II SOE agent Violette Szabo in Carve Her Name with Pride.

However, McKenna is best remembered for her 1966 role as Joy Adamson in the true-life film Born Free for which she received a nomination for a Golden Globe. Bill Travers, her real life husband, co-starred with her, portraying conservationist George Adamson, and the experience led them to become active supporters for wild animal rights and the protection of their natural habitat.

For her services to wildlife and to the arts, in 2004 McKenna was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire. In March 2009 Virginia McKenna published her memoir The Life in My Years.

Her audiobook work also includes The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

About the author
Born in 1943 Michael Morpurgo describes himself as ‘oldish’. Married to Clare, father to three children and grandfather to six he has written over 100 titles for children over the course of his career. Honoured with an MBE in 1999 then Children’s Laureate from 2003-2005 and recipient of an OBE in 2006, Morpurgo is also a patron of countless charities, and in 1976 began, with his wife, the Farms For City Children charity which aims to relieve the experience of poverty in inner cities and urban areas by giving children the opportunity to live and work on a real farm for a week.

Posted: December 17th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books, Michael Morpurgo